Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia’s buy-now-pay-later giant Tamara is close to securing at least $1.4 billion in asset-backed financing from a group of global lenders led by Goldman Sachs, as reported by Bloomberg.

 According to people familiar with the matter, Citigroup and Apollo Global Management are also expected to participate, with the total commitment potentially reaching $2.4 billion.

The deal, which will refinance and expand an earlier facility arranged by Goldman, would be among the largest of its kind in the Middle East. It highlights the growing interest of Wall Street banks and private credit firms in the region’s fast-rising fintech sector.

Tamara, backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and Checkout.com, became a unicorn in 2023 and competes with Tabby, which secured financing from JPMorgan last year. The transaction comes as Saudi startups drive a surge in regional venture funding, with $1.35 billion raised in the first half of 2025, nearly double the year before.